Monogram frame



April 14, 1936. M CHERNOW I 7 2,037,660

MONOGRAM FRAME Filed Dec. 2, 1955 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE No i M ael heme New Ygrk, ll- Application December 2, 1935, s No. 52,475 13 Claims. (01. 40-140) My present invention relates to monogram frame units of the type employed on brooches, pendant obs and for in ia plates al y.

It an object of the invention to provide a 5 unit ofthe above which can be readily made up by hand, with the initials required, and withut re ort to so der, rive s r even to to s y 110 efiect an assembly which remains secure under all conditions of use, which has the appearance of 10 being fabricated from'a single unitary block of metal, and which can be readily disassembled when r quir d- Another object is to provide a device of the type which may be incorporated in various metals and material and lends itself to manufacture at low cost.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of monogram plate,

Fig. 2 is a rear plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal cross-section on a larger scale taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Eig. Fl is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Bi Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on l ne. 5-5 of Fi Fig. 6 is a face sectional view taken on line 6-6 f Fig.3,

F g. .7 is a vi w similar to Fi 1, sh w n th fiexure of the frame somewhatexaggerated, in the introduction of the intermediate initial,

light; is a perspective view of one of the lateral initials used in this invention and Fig. 9 is a similar view of an intermediate initial.

-Referring now to the drawing, the invention comprises an open frame preferably of" resilient metal, and of curved contour. This frame is of channel conformation, the rear ledge I!) of the channel being preferably wider than the'front or exp sedledge II thereof, and the base l2 of the channel constituting the outer periphery of the 45 frame. With the circular frame illustratively shown, corresponding alphabets of initials are employed, comprising two sets of lateral initials, including a set of left hand initials such as the letter fC and a series of right hand initials such as the letter A illustratively shown on the drawing. There is also at least one set of intermediate initials illustratively shown on the drawing as the letter B. Each of the initials is preferably a relatively rigid block of metal provided with a curved la eral dge rmed as a shoulder S-to ab the corresponding inner edge of the outer ledge I l.

Each of the lateral initials also has a lateral fln l3 extendingflush with the rear face of the initial and of reduced thickness, such as to extend snugly into the corresponding ,portion of the channel IO'I2. The fin is, however, of width less than the depth of the channel along the median part of its length, to afford a space l4 between its longitudinal edge and the base 12 of said channel. each of the two lateral initials may be readily inserted into the frame with the shoulders S thereof abutting the outer frame ledge l l and the fins l3 concealed within the frame channel.

The frame is preferably made with stop lugs l5 and I6 against which preferably the upper ends of the lateral initials abut as best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing. These stops may be in the form of tongues struck out of the wider or rear ledge of the channel and turned inward against the front ledgeas appears at I! in Fig. 4.

The intermediate initial is provided with a lower shoulder S to abut the corresponding inner edge ofthe front ledge H and has a lower fin IS with short lateral extensions 20 which engage the corresponding ends of the fins [3 of the lateral initials. The upper end of the intermediate initial also has a shoulder S to engage the corresponding inner edge of the front ledge II and also has a fin 2| which fits snugly between the stop lugs l5'and l6.

The initials having flat backs extend at their rears almost flush with the frame'back the rear ledge In of small thickness framing the same. Preferably the initials are of thickness such that they protrude well in front of the front ledge II of the frame. In the embodiment shown the initials have beveled faces so that the face of the exposed assembly extends along a generally spherical surface above the channel frame, as

best shown in Fig. 5.

' The mode of assembly will be apparent from the'foregoing. The lateral initials are readily positioned with their fins I3 in the respective channels and with their upper ends engaging .the stop lugs l5 and I6 respectively. Thereupon the lower fin IQ of the intermediate initial is readily inserted into the channel. frame between the lower ends of the lateral initials and the frame is then .heldas shown in Fig. 7 and pressed to cause the frame to be flexed transversely, the lattwee stop lu s 71. and 1.6 this iiei re au e he til short length of frame between said lugs to be displaced radially outward, sufliciently to permit the edge of upper fin 2| on the intermediate letter to pass the inner edge of the front ledge ll of the channel frame. Upon release of the pressure, the frame springs back to normal position, and the intermediate initial is effectively locked in place, with the outer ledge l I thereof overlapping the upper fin 2|. The intermediate initial thus locks the lateral initials against displacement.

In the construction shown and described the assembly is secure without rattle between the initials or between any of the initials and the frame. The shoulders on the several initials snugly engage the circular rim of the front ledge II, the lateral fins l3 and the lower fin l9 occupy the length of channel other than that between the stop lugs l and i6, while the upper fin 2| snugly occupies the channel space between said lugs.

To disassemble for replacing initials when desired, the same operation is reversed, that is, the frame is pressed inward as in Fig. 7, the central initial is urged outward at its top by pressing it forward from the back of the unit, whereupon the intermediate then the lateral initials are readily removed.

While the invention has been shown with only three initials as is ordinarily preferred, it is obvious that the idea could be carried forward with more initials.

While the embodiment disclosed shows the frame of resilient material and the initials relatively stiff, it will be understood that the frame could be made relatively stiff and the resiliency incorporated in the intermediate initial or initials or alternatively the spring pressed bar arrangement shown in my prior Patent No. 1,994,686 of Mar. 19, 1935, could be resorted to in a construction in which both the frame and the initials are of relatively rigid stock.

While the frame has been shown of generally circular contour it is of course obvious that the invention could be incorporated in embodiments of oval, square or rectangular contour and in a variety of other shapes.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described an article in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which article in its action attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A monogram unit comprising a channel frame and a plurality of initial members substantially filling said frame, the lateral initial members having lateral fins extending into the channel of the frame and the intermediate initial member having fins at the ends thereof, one of said fins projecting lengthwise to contact the fins of the lateral initial members within the frame channel and to space them, at least one of said coacting elements having resiliency to permit the other fin to snap into the corresponding portion of the frame channel and means to prevent lateral shift of the initials adjacent the region of the snap fit.

2. A monogram unit comprising a. channel frame with a. curved periphery of resilient metal, initial units securely and releasably retained therein, comprising lateral initial members having lateral fins extending into the channel, an intermediate initial member having fins at its upper and lower ends, fitting into the corresponding parts of the frame channel, one of the fins of the intermediate initial having lateral extensions to retain the corresponding portions of the lateral initials against shifting and means coacting with the other fin of the intermediate initial to retain the corresponding ends of the respective initials securely in position.

3. A monogram unit comprising a resilient curved channel frame, a pair of lateral initial members with fins laterally accommodated in the frame channel, a pair of stop members in the channel frame to engage the respective lateral initials at one end thereof for positioning the latter and an intermediate initial member having upper and lower fins, one of said fins being of width greater than that of the initial and engaging the corresponding ends of the lateral initials when in place, the opposite fin of said initial being snapped into the frame between the stop members.

4. A monogram unit comprising a channel frame of resilient metal, the rear ledge of which is wider than the front ledge, a set of metal initial blocks releasably retained in said frame, said set including a pair of lateral initials with lateral fins accommodated in the channel and with shoulders contacting the inner rim of said front ledge, the

third member of the set comprising an intermediate initial having upper and lower fins, one of said fins engaging the respective lateral initials and spacing them, the other of said fins snapping into place in the frame, said intermediate initial presenting shoulders adjacent the fins, engaging the inner rim of said front ledge.

5. A monogram unit comprising a channel frame of curved contour, a pair of lateral initials having lateral fins lodged in the respective channels and an intermediate initial having horizontal fins accommodated in the corresponding portions of the channel frame between said lateral initials, said parts laterally contacting to prevent looseness between said initials, the transverse diameter of said frame being compressible to cause spreading of the longitudinal diameter of said frame for snapping the intermediate initial in place after the lateral initials have been positioned.

6. A monogram unit comprising a channel frame of curved contour, a pair of lateral initials having lateral fins lodged in the respective channels, and an intermediate initial having end fins accommodated in the corresponding portions of the channel frame between said lateral initials, said portions laterally contacting to prevent looseness between said initials, said intermediate initial being relatively stiff and said frame having resilience to permit fiexure thereof with the lateral initials in place, thereby to snap said intermediate initial in place.

7. As an article of manufacture a channel frame of curved contour for a monogram unit, the rear ledge of said channel being wider than the front ledge and a pair of lugs struck up from said rear ledge and serving to locate the corresponding inner edges of lateral initials, to be placed in the frame.

8. A monogram unit comprising a resilient sheet metal channel frame with a curved contour presenting a wider rear ledge and a narrower front ledge of the channel, the rear ledge having a pair of upturned stop lugs, lateral initial members located at their inner edges by said lugs, each of said lateral initials having lateral fins accommodated in the channel, an intermediate initial member having upper and lower fins fitted in the channel of the frame between the lateral initials, one of said fins extending snugly between said stop lugs, the other of said fins being somewhat longer and engaging the corresponding ends of the lateral initials, one of the coacting parts having suflicient flexibility to permit snapping of said intermediate initial in place.

9. A monogram unit comprising a resilient open channel frame of curved contour, the channel having a wider rear ledge and a narrower front ledge, a pair of spaced lugs near the top of said frame, turned up from said rear face, a pair of lateral relatively stiff initial blocks having lateral fins accommodated in said channel and contacting the respective lugs at the upper edges thereof, an intermediate relatively stiff initial member having a lower fin protruding laterally beyond the initial, accommodated in the lower part of the channel frame and engaging the corresponding portions of the lateral initials, said intermediate initial having an upper fin snapped into said frame and snugly accommodated between said spaced lugs.

10. A monogram unit comprising a resilient open channel frame of curved contour, the channel having a wider rear ledge and a narrower front ledge, a pair of spaced lugs near the top of said frame, turned up from said rear ledge a pair of lateral relatively stiff initial blocks, fins accommodated in said channel and contacting the respective lugs at the upper edges thereof, an intermediate relatively stiff initial member having a lower fin protruding laterally beyond the initials, accommodated in the lower part of the channel frame and'engaging the corresponding portions of the lateral initials, said intermediate initial having an upper fin snapped into said frame and snugly accommodated between said spaced lugs, each of said initials presenting shoulders conformed to contact the inner rims of the front channel ledge.

11. A monogram unit, comprising a. resilient metal channel frame of curved contour, lateral initial members each having a fin shaped to fit into the corresponding portion of the channel, the fin at its middle part being of width narrower than the depth of the channel to permit lateral fiexure of said channel with said initials in place and an intermediate initial having upper and lower fins accommodated in the frame channel.

12. A resilient metal channel frame for a monogram unit having a rear channel ledge of greater width and a front and exposed channel ledge of lesser width, the rear channel ledge being weakened at two points, spaced from each other, by the width of an intermediate initial, to permit maximum fiexure thereat, for ready assembly of initials into the frame.

13. A monogram unit comprising a resilient metal channel frame of curved contour, the rear ledge of the channel being of greater width and the front ledge being of lesser width, said rear ledge having a pair of upstruck stop tongues serving to position the initials and to afford maximum resilience of the frame thereat, a pair of lateral initials having lateral fins accommodated in the corresponding portions of the channel, each of said fins of width less than the depth of the channel, to permit flexure of the frame with said initials in place, an intermediate initial having a lower fin with lateral extensions accommodated in the channel frame and engaging the lateral initials and having an upper fin accommodated between the two stop tongues and adapted to be snapped into place therebetween by virtue of the fiexure of the frame.

MICHAEL CHERNOW. 

